, 1887-12-22
CITY COUNCIL.
A Long and Busy Meeting OF
the Fathers.
The Motor Railway to be Dis
cussed next Wednesday.


time and place, with Deuber in the
chair. Councilmon present, Deuber,
Hoover, Johnson, Kaufman, Clough,
Arthur and Bishop.
The minutes of the last meeting
we're read and approved. Meanwhile
Mayor Taylor had arrived and rs.
sumed the chair.
The pay roll of the regular city
officers was read and warrants ordered
drawn for their payment.
The mayor reported that he had
felt Obliged to veto the ordinance de-
ining otienses and fixing the punish
ment therefor, and gave the following
reasons for such action:
TO the City Conncil of the City Of
Spokane Falls:
GENTLEMEN: l herewith return to
you without my signature an ordi-
nance entitled, An ordinance defining
otienses and fixing the punishment
ber 18th, 1887, with II few of my lead
ing objections:
While recognizing the necessity of
legislation upon nearly every subject
with which the ordinance deals, my
objections to many of it's provisions
are serious enough to, in my mind,
justify the withholding of nay APP
proval.
l disapprove of the excessive penal
ty prescribed by section one for viola.
ton of the provisions thereof, the Sec
ton reading; "Any person who shall
engage in, transact or carry on any
business trade or occupation within the
incorporated limits OF the city of Spo-
kane Falls, for which license is re-
quired by any ordnance, without first
obtaining such license, shall, upon
conviction thereof before any police
Justice of said city be fined in any sum
not less than one hundred dollars,
where the license does not exceed one
hundred dollars" The section, it will
be seen, also fails TO provide any pen
atty in cases where the license exceeds
800, ~ is the case with the saloons at
least.
Section three fails to cover the
ground. 1t provides that it shalj be
unlawful to "throw or discharge any
nuisance, oflal or other offensive mat
ter except ordinary drainage into the
Spokane river above the falls, or any
other stream Of water in said city" 1t
occurs 10 me that matter comprising
ordinary drainage is likely to be the
most dangerous and offensive that
could possibly be allowed to pollute
our waGer supply.
Section eleven is Objectionable in
that, after many wise provisions
relative to obstructions OF side
walks and streets, it allows
posts to be erected on the
curb OF the walk Tor the SUPP ort among
other things OF "signs not to exceed
five inches in thickness and two feet
square, and awning OF tight materi-
al" etc. ueitheT OF which should in
my Judgement be sallowed. 1t also
provides that goods and merchandise
exhibited for signs not offensive to
the senses nor dangerous to travel, are
placed in such way AZ to obstruct
the view to the signs and goods OF
occupants ad jaccnt, and all goods in
transit to and from the street. are not
distractions within the meaning oil
the section. While not desiring 10 see
the lines drawn so tightly as toprevent
making reasonable display OF the
merchants goods and wares to thepub-
lie eve, it seems to me that under the
above provisions he acquires right TO
the entire sidewalk, providing his
goods do not obstruct the view Of his
neighbors or signs or become dan
gcrbus" to travel. The carrying OF
concealed deadly weapons is interdict-
ed in nearly every peacable commun-
nity, and can see no reason Tor ex-
cepting from the otherwise just pro-
visions of section 81 persons who may
not have resided in the city exceeding
five days, thus placing unarmed citizens
at the mercy OF the armed and possi-
bly, quare)some and desperate ss'-
journer.
As the city attorney is IL salaried Of
ficer, of the corporation, and prosecu-
tons for oflcnses against the ordi-
nances of the city are made his duty
by the charter, l see no reason Tor the
provision in section % making 1t the
duty of the police magistrate to in
cude'city attorneys fees in his judg-
mcnts against persons convicted III his
couIt.
w. III. TAYLOR,
Mayor.
Moved by Hoover that further con-
sideration OF the ordinance be indefi-
nitely postponed. Carried.
The special committee appointed to
draw up IN ordinance in regard to fire
limits, asked for an extension OF time
to make their report.
The mayor called Dcuber to the
chair and in few brief and very SEN
sible remarks agrued that it would be
best to postpone acting in the matter
till spring.
Clough thought it was matter
| which demanded immediate attention.
Hoover thought that when property got
20 ha worth X150 a front foot the owners